Sexism row in Sri Lankan parliament

A Sri Lankan minister has been accused of sexism after he told a former beauty queen MP he was so mesmerised by her looks he could not answer her questions in parliament.

Rosy Senanayake has been involved in politics for more than 20 years and served as a United Nations Goodwill Ambassador

By Dean Nelson, South Asia Editor

1:13PM GMT 06 Dec 2012

Rosy Senanayake, a former Miss Sri Lanka and Mrs World who has also served as her country's High Commissioner in Malaysia, had asked minister Kumara Welgama about the state of the country's Transport Board, but instead of answering her question, he told her he was "choked" by her beauty and would describe his feelings for her outside the chamber.

"I am so happy to answer a question by a beauty queen like Rosy Senanayake. You are such a charming woman. I have no words to describe my feelings "I cannot explain my feelings here. But if you meet me outside Parliament, I will describe them.

"When I see her, my thoughts are running riots which I don't want to reveal to the public," he said.

Mrs Senanayake, 54, who has been involved in politics for more than 20 years and served as a United Nations Goodwill Ambassador, said the minister had intended to compliment her but had in fact insulted her by focusing on her looks instead of answering her question.

"I'm still being recognised as a beauty queen, but I've been a high commissioner and in politics for such a long time. As a woman you are not regonised as a person who has done so many portfolios, always referred to as the beauty you were in your heyday. I don't regret being a beauty queen.